Catharanthus plant named ‘Sunnichiroin’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Catharanthus  plant named ‘Sunnichiroin’, characterized by its trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Catharanthus roseus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNNICHIROIN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Catharanthus plant, botanically known as Catharanthus roseus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunnichiroin’.

The new Catharanthus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new freely branching and flowering Catharanthus plants with trailing plant habit and attractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Catharanthus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventors in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in June, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Catharanthus roseus identified as code number Casp7-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Catharanthus roseus identified as code number 03-22-4, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Catharanthus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in March, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Catharanthus plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since April, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Catharanthus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Catharanthus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunnichiroin’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunnichiroin’ as a new and distinct Catharanthus plant:

-   -   1. Trailing plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Large red purple-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Catharanthus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Catharanthus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Catharanthus are more trailing than and not         as upright as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Catharanthus have red purple-colored         flowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have         pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Catharanthus can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Catharanthus differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Catharanthus can be compared to plants of the Catharanthus roseus ‘Sunnichipink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,523. Plants of the new Catharanthus differ from plants of ‘Sunnichipink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Catharanthus have larger leaves than plants         of ‘Sunnichipink’.     -   2. Plants of the new Catharanthus have broader flower petals         than plants of ‘Sunnichipink’.     -   3. Plants of the new Catharanthus and ‘Sunnichipink’ differ         slightly in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Catharanthus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Catharanthus plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunnichiroin’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunnichiroin’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under commercial practice. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and night temperatures averaged. 15° C. Plants were four months old when the description and photographs were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Catharanthus roseus ‘Sunnichiroin’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Catharanthus roseus identified as code number Casp7-1, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Catharanthus roseus identified as code number 03-22-4, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five             weeks at 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six             weeks at 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Trailing plant habit; freely             branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing             per plant; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 12 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 42.5 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 22.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Decumbent.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 145B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 7.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 145D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 145D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.2 mm. Diameter: About 2.2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             usually about 43 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering habit.—Plants begin flowering about two to three             weeks after planting; long flowering period, in the garden,             plants flower continuously from the early summer to late             autumn in Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 3.7 cm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Tube diameter, at the base.—About 1.8 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 4.2 cm.             Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Color: Close to 185D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             flaring outwardly forming a star-shaped flower. Petal length             from throat: About 2.8 cm. Petal width: About 2.4 cm. Petal             shape: Obovate. Petal apex: Cuspidate. Petal margin: Entire;             slightly undulate. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Tube texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Petal, when             opening, upper surface: Close to N57B to N57A; towards the             base, close to N74D. Petal, when opening, lower surface:             Close to N155B; towards the margins, close to 55B. Petal,             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 58B; stripes, close to             75C; center, close to 155B; color becoming closer to 58C             with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to N155B; towards the margins, close to 55B. Throat: Close             to 145C. Tube: Close to 145C overlain with close to 178B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals fused             at the base per flower. Sepal length: About 3 mm. Sepal             width: About 0.9 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color, immature and mature,             upper surface: Close to 143A. Color, immature and mature,             lower surface: Close to 143A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             Upright to outward. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Stamen length: About 2.6 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly             elliptic. Anther size: About 2.8 mm by 1 mm. Anther color:             Close to 2C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to             12D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             2.6 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape:             Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary             color: Close to 144C. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development             have not been observed on plants of the new Catharanthus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Catharanthus have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain     and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Catharanthus have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Catharanthus. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Catharanthus plant named ‘Sunnichiroin’ as illustrated and described. 